"Michael, please bring me the next batch of applications," I instructed my assistant. When she had first mentioned that she was applying for a position at my firm, I felt a surge of excitement and personally reviewed every single application that came through.
"Is he still at it?" one voice asked, followed by another voice chiming in, "Absolutely. I've never seen him so completely obsessed." I groaned as I flipped through the pages of applications.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Surrier himself, who made such a grand promise never to be influenced by a woman's presence," one of the voices chuckled. I regretted mentioning Jean to them.
"Good evening, Angelo," I greeted with a sigh as the man with black hair continued to laugh. "And what about me?" came the other voice. "My apologies, Grandpa Matteo," I joked, making his grin fade into a frown.
"I'm only 45, Xavier. I'm not old," Matteo rolled his eyes in response. "Says the guy with two kids already," Angelo said, nearly collapsing from laughter.
"Get up, you idiot," I chuckled, amused despite myself. "What brings you both here? I specifically told everyone that our next meeting isn't until the week after next." I looked at them with suspicion.
"Is it so wrong for us to visit an acquaintance?" Angelo raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Nonsense. I know you wouldn't come here without a purpose," I said, tossing the applications onto my desk as I stood up.
Matteo sighed and approached me. "Do you remember... Leonel?" My attention snapped to him at the mention of his name.
"Leonel Cooper?" I asked, turning to face Matteo.
"Yes. He's being released from jail next week. We have a theory that his associates are still out there, waiting for him." The thought of him, and the damage he had done to my family, filled me with anger.
Fifteen years ago...
"You bastard..." my father growled, aiming a gun at Leonel. "I was meant to be the heir, not you." Leonel shouted back, holding my mother at gunpoint.
"You never deserved it," my father retorted. "If my father had given it to you, you would have squandered it! Look at you! You killed Hua and got away with it, just because of the inheritance you received." Leonel had stormed into one of my father's companies and taken everyone hostage. His grievance stemmed from my grandfather favoring my father over him, making him merely a "successor" in his eyes.
I hid behind a wall, waiting for the right moment. I drew my gun and fired at Leonel, hitting him in the leg.
"GAH! Damn it!" Leonel dropped in pain, releasing my mother so she could run to my father.
"Don't you dare speak of my son," my father shot him in the arm, before signaling me to come over.
"You will all see... YOU WILL ALL SEE!" Leonel screamed maniacally.
"Are you alright, Xavier?" Angelo's voice broke through my recollections. "You look like you're about to take over the world." He raised an eyebrow.
"Just old memories," I sighed, turning to Michael who had just returned with the remaining files. "Michael, please call my father." He nodded and began dialing.
"Perhaps we should discuss this with the others tomorrow. You need to unwind," Matteo suggested. "Let's go grab a drink."
"I'm stressed, but fine, let's do it," I agreed, trying to shake off the tension.
I resumed my search through the files. "Where is she?" I muttered.
Michael chuckled. "What's so funny?" I snapped, turning to him.
